Do you ever feel like every other photographer out there?
Or struggle with thoughts like, “Why would anyone ever hire me over someone else? There are so many photographers out there! The market is oversaturated with photographers.”
4 Ways To Make Your Photography Business Stand Out In An Oversaturated Market:
1. Invite people fall in love with YOU.
People buy from people and brands they like, connect to, resonate and fall in love with.
If you’re not sure why people would love you, ask your friends, acquaintances, and past clients what it is they absolutely love about interacting with and spending time with you.
Trust me, there are things that they absolutely love about you. The things that make you, you.
How you can do this:
Infuse your personality into your brand. If you want to stop being seen as the same as every other person in your industry, set yourself apart by being YOU. And it’s okay if not everyone likes you; not everyone should. If your goal is to build a photography business that EVERYONE loves, your brand isn’t going to stand out. It’s going to feel diluted.
If you haven’t yet, share your origin story of why you started. Why did you go into photography? Everyone loves a good story, especially when there’s passion and purpose involved. Don’t be afraid to share yours.
2. Create your own mini niche (unique selling point).
Want to stand out in an oversaturated market?
Don’t do what every other photographer in your industry is doing the same exact way they’re doing and definitely do not take on any and every job under the sun (or even if you do, don’t advertise it as such).
Build your portfolio and expertise, and pick a specific direction you want to go.
How you can do this:
Don’t just offer another service.
Provide an EXPERIENCE that people can only get with you. Maybe your specialty is shooting in a studio or at a beautifully designed Airbnb. Maybe you’re really good at shooting headshots for millennials in the start-up industry. Maybe you want to become a beach elopement photographer on the West Coast.
Brand your photography business and be known for your experience. That’s how you set yourself apart as a photographer in a saturated market.
This is specifically why people come to you, and this is what you’re known for. Create a niche within your niche.
3. Provide value with content marketing.
How are you going to make someone’s life better? We all have aspirations, dreams, goals, struggles, etc.
Become their guide – the person who takes them from point A to point B. (book recommendation: read “Building A Story Brand” by Donald Miller).
Value can come in so many forms: inspiration, education, storytelling, etc.
As a photographer, it’s good to be on Instagram, have a blog, and use Pinterest.
Instagram is a great way to connect with your ideal clients and a great place to showcase your amazing work. By regularly posting your best photos, you not only interact with your followers but also increase your chances of showing up on your ideal clients’ IG explore page.
Blogging can help your photography business show up on search engines when potential clients are searching for a wedding or elopement photographer in your city. As a business, you want to make it easier for your ideal clients to find you.
Along with having client galleries on your blog, I suggest having helpful blog posts. For example, you could write about the top wedding venues in your town and include your work in there.
Now, let’s talk about Pinterest.
Pinterest is actually a great platform for photographers to use for their marketing because it’s essentially a visual search engine. You can showcase your work and organize them into boards like engagement sessions, wedding photos, wedding venue inspiration, and so on. This helps with SEO and allow your ideal clients to find you.
4. Create an awesome brand experience / buyer journey.
Your favorite brands create brand experiences all the time, from the way they arrange their store to their social media channels.
Take a moment to think about how you feel when you interact with your favorite brands.
What are they doing to make you feel this way? What are they doing to inspire you to take action? (i.e. buying their products and services) It could be their brand mission, storytelling, design, messaging, aesthetics, overall vibe, etc.
How you can do this:
Think about how you want people to feel when they interact with your brand.
Then, write down a list of all the possible ways people interact with your brand. (Ex. IG posts – stories – highlights, FB, Pinterest; email newsletter; freebies and lead magnets; in-person events; investment guide; website; etc.)
How you can make your brand interactions more cohesive, consistent, and clear? How can you inspire them to take action?
In the world of photography, you’ve got to stand out, especially in a saturated market.
Here’s the scoop: People want to connect with you, the real you. So, let your personality shine through your brand. Next up, find your unique twist, your thing that nobody else does quite like you. It’s your superpower in a crowded world. Share your knowledge, tips, and cool stuff through your content, and you’ll be their go-to photography guru.
And don’t forget to make the entire experience awesome. From the first hello to the final photo delivery, make it unforgettable.
When you do this, your photography business becomes not just a service but an unforgettable experience that clients come back to again and again.
Let’s talk tips for flat lay photography. The number one piece of equipment that I recommend that you get to improve your flat lay photography is a tripod or a c-stand. But, how do you know whether you should choose a c-stand vs. a tripod…or both, and why are they even important in the first place?
I’ll break it all down for you in this post and tell you why I prefer a c-stand over a tripod for flat lay photography. But, let’s start with a little story…
WHERE I WENT WRONG WITH MY FIRST TRIPOD
I first bought a tripod about a year ago when I began my photography journey. In my excitement, I bought ALL the things. You know, every single piece of gear that I thought made me appear to be a “real” photographer. Tripod? Check. Everything you could possibly think of. Never mind I didn’t know how to use all of the things that I purchased, nor why I even needed them in the first place.
In my rush to look the part, I made a number of rookie mistakes:
Neglected to carefully think through my selections.
Didn’t factor in quality.
Failed to consider the features.
Also, I didn’t even think through how I, personally, planned to use the piece of gear or tool I was purchasing.
With the various models available, these are crucial considerations to make sure the model you choose fits your current needs and any potential future needs you might have.
Putting price of equipment above everything else (e.g., features, quality, current and future needs) was my rookie mistake.
Let’s take my first tripod, for example. I bought an inexpensive tripod that was around. (I considered it expensive at the time.) It included both the legs and a head that was attached to the tripod. My first professional use for that tripod was an interiors shoot. By that time, I had upgraded my camera to one that was heavier in weight.
When I got to the shoot, the head would not support the weight of that camera, so it wouldn’t stay in place. It kept tilting…which is NOT ideal for interior photography where you need the verticals (e.g., walls) to be straight. I had a lot of editing to do after the shoot. Needless to say, I only used it once. Talk about a waste of money!
My first tripod definitely wouldn’t have cut it for flat lay photography. Had I known from the start that I was going to shoot flat lays, and anticipated that I would upgrade my camera and lenses to better quality ones, I could have saved up to buy the best tripod for my purposes. My goal with this post is to help you not make the same mistakes and to guide you with tips for flat lay photography in order to make the best decision for your needs when it comes to choosing a c-stand or tripod (or potentially both) for flat lay photography. But, first things first.
TIPS FOR FLAT LAY PHOTOGRAPHY: MY TOP 5 REASONS YOU NEED A C-STAND OR A TRIPOD!
If your goal is to shoot flat lays regularly, then having a c-stand or tripod really is a must, and here is why:
Ensures (along with a camera level) that your camera is directly overhead.
Allows your camera to maintain a consistent vantage point as you tweak your styling.
Eliminates camera shake (i.e., unintentionally blurry images) that is caused by shooting hand-held, especially when the shutter speed is slow.
Keeps your hands free to slide your hands in the shot.
Saves you from back pain from hunching over your scene while capturing the image.
TRIPOD VS. C-STAND: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
The main difference between a tripod and a c-stand relates to their primary and intended purposes.
Most people are familiar with a tripod. It is a piece of photography equipment that is designed to stabilize your camera and is used in various genres of photography, from landscapes to portraits to products and food.
On the other hand, a c-stand’s primary purpose is to hold or grip lights, scrims, reflectors and other accessories at various angles and distances to the set without getting in the way like a traditional light stand might. A c-stand also eliminates the need to have someone hold the reflector, for example, for you. Over time, photographers also began using c-stands to mount cameras for overhead shots or flat lays.
A secondary difference is the way that the two are constructed. With a tripod, you extend the legs to get more height and widen them to get a more stable base. With a c-stand, the legs remain in place and low to the ground, and you adjust the body to get more height without compromising the stability.
WHY I SWITCHED TO A C-STAND FOR MY FLAT LAY STUDIO WORK
Reduction of Maximum Height
For a long time, I used this tripod for my flat lay photography. I love that it has a center column that I can position horizontally for overhead shots. Also, it is relatively lightweight and collapses to a small size, which is perfect for travel. At 6ft maximum height, I thought that it would be perfect for all of my needs. What I didn’t anticipate was that the height would be reduced to 4ft 8in if I used the center column horizontally and even more so (to 3ft 8in) if I widened the legs. This was fine for tighter shots but more problematic for wide ones.
You might ask, “Why widen the legs?” With a tripod, the legs go on the side of your setup. For some larger backdrops, you need to widen the legs so that the tripod doesn’t sit on top of your backdrop and cause potential damage. Also, widening the legs gives the tripod a more stable base so that it doesn’t tip as easily.
The tripod legs got in the way
With the legs narrowed, I sometimes encountered a situation where the legs got in the shot, depending on the lens I was using. While I could compensate for this by switching to a longer lens, I like to make my lens choices based on the composition and image I have envisioned vs. logistical concerns. At other times, the legs would cast a shadow on my scene. If the legs were too close together, I found that I couldn’t position fill cards (e.g., white or black foam core) the way I wanted to bounce more light into the scene or block light from entering the scene.
For these reasons, I knew that I needed a different tripod option. However, my tripod already worked well for me in many ways. For example, it is perfect for 45 degree or straight-on shots as well as for interiors. It even works well for some flat lay images, especially if I am shooting a minimalist image with a long lens on a standard size (e.g., 18”x24”) backdrop. It is also highly portable and easy to take along with me when I deliver flat lay workshops at conferences. So, getting another tripod would only give me increased height and no other advantages.
IMPORTANT TIP FOR FLAT LAY PHOTOGRAPHY: ADVANTAGES OF A C-STAND OVER A TRIPOD
That’s where the c-stand comes in. In addition to the height advantage, a c-stand has the added versatility that I mentioned above in terms of holding lights and accessories. Plus, it has some additional advantages specifically for my flat lay photography. The primary reasons I prefer a c-stand include the ability to:
Get much higher above the scene:
This was important for shooting wider scenes as well as for using certain lenses (e.g., 85mm) that have a minimum focusing distance that was not conducive to the height of my tripod. If your camera is too close to your subject, the camera will not be able to lock focus, unless you use a macro lens.
The minimum height of my c-stand is approximately the same as the maximum height of my tripod. The maximum height of my c-stand is about 11ft, so I am now only limited by the height of my ceiling. Although the c-stand can extend far above my height, I don’t have to worry about reaching my camera because I shoot tethered to my laptop and control the settings from there.
Set up two scenes simultaneously:
I am able to style one scene on the floor and another on a table. This works great when I have both a product shoot and a food shoot on my agenda. When I am ready to shoot the second scene, I just swivel the boom arm to the next surface area.
Leave my gear set up between shoots:
I don’t know about you, but having to break down and set up my gear every time I want to shoot is a bit annoying. I’d rather use those precious few minutes to begin styling my scene. No more tripping over my tripod legs or breaking the tripod down each time.
I keep my c-stand setup and just swivel the arm parallel to the wall or release the boom arm to rest vertically when I’m not using it. That way, I don’t bump my head on it and can walk freely around my office studio.
Slide large reflectors in on all sides for a bright and evenly lit photo:
Because of the triangular formation of the tripod legs and the length of my centre column, I was not able to position large pieces of foam core appropriately.
Position myself to get my hands anywhere in the frame:
See reference image below. Without having to maneuver around the legs. I know longer have to practice being a contortionist.
Landscape photography, highlighting useful landscape photography tips on planning a trip, composing images, to photography gear and post-processing techniques.
Landscape photography is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding and enjoyable forms of photography. Who doesn’t want to get outside more, to breathe the fresh air, and to connect to nature? Whether your pastime is to capture majestic snow-capped mountain peaks, the orderly structure of a metropolis skyline, or calm waves lapping at a palm tree-lined island beach, these landscape photography tips will help you make the most of your next photo expedition.
What is landscape photography?
Landscape photography is the art of capturing images that embody the essence of nature and the outdoors. A great landscape photograph transports the viewer and gives them the sense of being there and seeing something incredible. As a landscape photographer, you want the viewer to connect with the emotions you felt when you shot the photograph. Everyone wants to capture the beauty of new locations. Even if you are fortunate enough to visit the most beautiful locations on Earth, photography is a never-ending learning and growing process.
We have put together a list of tips and ideas to help you with everything from planning to composition, and from photography gear to the best post-processing techniques. Follow these tips to capture breathtaking unique landscape pictures.
Here are our top 25 landscape photography tips to capture stunning landscape photos :
1. Plan Where To Go
Researching locations might just be one of the most fun parts of shooting landscapes. Whether it’s a favorite place that you’d been to a million times or an entirely new location far away from your home base, a little research can go a long way in planning to take the best shots possible. You can use online maps to plan your route to the spot and different vantage points that you think will make the best shots. While doing your research, you must keep in mind the popular attractions and sites, so that you get the best results.
2. Plan When To Go
Once you have an idea of where to go and how to get there, consider when you want to be there. You’ll want to plan quite a bit of time to scout the location in person, set up your gear, and move around the place. But beyond that, you’ll want to plan for the best light. You might wind up taking some sample shots and realizing that you really want to come back at sunset, or even after dark. On an even bigger scale, some vistas are perfect at certain times of the year. The Smoky Mountains are beautiful anytime, but in the fall when the colors turn they are magical. And what about the rainbow that is made at Yosemite Falls only once a year? Think about your expedition with the seasons in mind.
3. Consider a “Do-Over”
Just because you have shot a location doesn’t mean you have to be done with it. If you had a great time shooting a location and were highly impressed with the photos afterward, consider a return trip. Photography, like any endeavor, is a learning experience. With each trip into the field, we learn more and more about ourselves, our equipment, and our environment. By returning to the same location after we have seen some results, you will be inspired with new ideas for new angles and new approaches to try out. You also might be inspired to hike a little further and dig a little deeper. You might also want to try visiting the location at a different time of the day, to get varied results.
4. Choose the Best Camera for Landscape Photography
Give your camera choice some thought. The best camera for landscape photography is definitely one with a full-frame sensor and a nice wide-angle lens, but occasionally the best lens for landscape photography might be a zoom or telephoto lens. For the sharpest landscapes, you’ll want to shoot at f/16 or even f/22. A high f-stop allows the photographer to capture details in both the foreground and the background. Having everything in focus in your landscape shots is important. Point and shoot cameras seldom have the ability to exceed f/8. Digital SLR cameras, with their many choices for lenses and manual settings, will produce the best landscape images. What is more, DSLR cameras feature larger sensors that will produce much more detail and sharper images, making them the best camera for landscape photography. Newer mirrorless cameras are also great for landscapes, and they have the added benefit of being smaller and lighter than the old-school SLR cameras.
5. Polarize
The circular polarizer is one of the most powerful landscape photography techniques in the professional landscape photographer camera bag, so don’t leave home without one. This magical piece of glass makes all the difference between the professional artists and the point and shooters, and there are few situations where the polarizer won’t make your photos shine. In every daytime scene, the polarizer allows you to manipulate the light in the sky, making blues pop and clouds more dramatic and more defined. When near water the polarizer will enable you to control, limit, or even eliminate reflections. You can see fish swimming over tropical reefs or rocks at the bottom of a mountain stream.
6. Make it Dark
Neutral density filters are another great tool in a photographer’s arsenal. ND filters make a scene darker than it appears by reducing light that reaches the camera. If you want to capture a long-exposure photograph but the scene is too brightly lit to allow it, an ND filter is just the thing. ND filters are invaluable when you are seeking to make water smooth with motion or when looking to make clouds streak across the sky. When used correctly, ND filters can create a surreal, painting-like quality, especially with seascapes and waterfalls.
7. Graduated Filters
Sometimes we don’t want a filter to affect the whole photo, so graduated filters come in handy. If you need an ND filter to darken an overexposed sky, reach for a graduated density filter. They come in pretty much any combination you could desire, but the primary go-to would be a half ND filter of 1 or 2 stops.
8. Wide Angle Lenses Are King
The best lens for landscape photography is not always a wide-angle one, but it usually is. There are times when you will want to focus on small details, like the moon rising over a distant mountain peak. For these rare examples, a zoom or telephoto lens will come in handy and will help you think outside the box regarding your compositions. But regardless, the workhorse lens for shooting landscapes will be your favorite, good quality wide angle lens. Even when your subject is small, you may be best served by getting closer to it with your wide-angle lens rather than zooming in with a longer lens.
9. Three Legs are Better than Two
One of the most significant aspects of shooting landscapes is to capture the sharpest detail possible over a wide area. When shooting at the low shutter speeds common in landscape photography, your tripod will become your new best friend. Pick a tripod that is beefy enough for your heaviest gear, but also portable enough to not be a burden. If your tripod is too heavy and too cumbersome, you will find yourself leaving it at home more than you should.
10. Dramatic Skies and the Importance of Clouds
A blah sky makes a blah photo. While the Golden Hours around dawn and dusk can make even the most dreary vistas beautiful, consider all your options. Clouds often add interest and drama to a photo. Even just a few fair-weather cumulus puffballs can make a world of difference to an otherwise uninteresting landscape. Streaky cirrus clouds reflect pinks and oranges during sunset, and dramatic and contrasty cumulonimbus thunderheads change the tone of a photo entirely.
11. Night Shots
Another option is to capture photos at night. Newer digital cameras have fantastic light capturing abilities in low-light settings. Astrophotography is no longer just for folks with telescopes and specialized equipment. A wide-angle lens, set on a sturdy tripod and mounted to your favorite DSLR, can capture amazing, captivating nighttime scenes that will make your landscapes look like a science fiction fantasy land.
Star photography takes a little practice and some special planning. If you are too close to big cities, you are more likely to get bright skyglow rather than the Milky Way prominent in your photos. Research dark sky areas and parks nearby where you can get away from light pollution. Of course, astrophotography is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to shooting after dark. Cities and towns, with their bustling cars, trains, and airplanes making a continuous, flowing light show, provide ample opportunities for photographers to capture stunning images too.
12. Add Foreground Interest
A great landscape photo really stands out when it is balanced with depth to it. This means something needs to be in the foreground: a character tree, a piece of driftwood, a sailboat, or a mountain creek. Where ever you are, look for foreground objects that help tell your story. An island in the distance is pretty, but a sailboat passing an island in the distance is epic. A mountain range is nice, but a lake surrounded by forest, reflecting those mountains is majestic.
13. Try Including People or Wildlife in Your Shots
Of course, people and wildlife are perfect subjects for adding depth and interest to landscape photos, but they are sometimes disregarded in favor of capturing pristine, untouched postcard-looking scenes. Instead, consider letting hikers, climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts tell a story in your images. While a beautiful view is gorgeous to look at, seeing a person in the scene invites us in as we imagine ourselves in their shoes.
14. Camera Settings for Landscape Photography
Modern DSLR cameras are fantastic in their ability to capture images quickly and to work in very dim light. There is a tradeoff, of course, in that pictures taken at higher ISO settings are very grainy. This is another reason why tripods are so crucial to landscape photographers. Keep the ISO numbers as low as possible. This will result in longer exposure times, but you will be rewarded with higher quality and sharper photos.
Landscape photography invariably requires high f-stops. Apertures of f/16 or f/22 are not uncommon. This ensures that the lens focuses details in both the foreground and background with a very deep depth of field. To achieve both high f-stop and low ISO, slow shutter speeds are a must. At low shutter speeds, remember that a tripod must be used to avoid blurry images from camera shaking. The histogram display on your camera can be a great help to all photographers. When used correctly, this informational display can tell you if the bright whites have been clipped or if the blacks are underexposed. This can be invaluable when setting up the shot and picking your camera settings for the perfect exposure.
15. Use RAW Format
RAW files contain more information than their JPEG counterparts. While it might seem simpler to save in the camera as a JPEG, you will be losing valuable information that could be important during post-processing. With the ability to adjust color balance and exposure details much more accurately, developing a good workflow with RAW files can be invaluable.
16. Composition
The rule of thirds pertains to landscape photography just as well as to any other form of photography. The advantage of shooting landscape pictures is that the photographer has much more time to reflect on the scene and compose the photograph. If your camera can overlay a grid, turn on the feature and use it to help compose your pictures. Work on creating a flow in the photograph that takes the viewer on a journey through the scene you are capturing. Where do you want them to visit? It is your job to guide them there.
17. Minimalism
Minimalism is the reduction of everything unnecessary. It is an excellent benefit when shooting landscapes to keep a minimalist’s eye. Often capturing the whole scene is just too much for one photograph. This goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip about composition: in keeping the composition simple and embracing minimalism, we can use small details to tell the whole story without overloading the viewer.
18. Change Viewpoints
As landscape photographers, we can’t really ask the mountains to change poses. Our models don’t move, so we have to. Try as many new viewpoints and vantages as possible. Move around a lot. Try way up high and way down low. Be creative.
19. Use Leading Lines
Leading lines are compositional elements in your photo that help direct the viewer’s eye as they see your work. Roads, rivers, rocks, bridges, or anything else that might provide a path for a viewer to put themselves into the photo. Once you understand the concept, you will find leading lines everywhere you shoot. It’s a simple composition technique that can pay dividends in your photography.
20. Find Movement
Another great way to add excitement to a scene is to focus on movement. Water in a stream, cars on a road, or waves on a beach all blur with longer exposure speeds that are common for deep, luscious landscape images. An ND filter can help you achieve just the effect you are looking for while keeping the scene’s details sharp and interesting.
21. Camp Out and Move-In
Plan on spending some time in locations that you love. Come back when the light has changed. Come back after dark. Come back with different lenses. If your spot of choice is too far off-the-grid, consider staying for an entire afternoon with a picnic or even camping overnight. Make the photography just one part of the adventure. For this very reason, you may find that your favorite landscape locations are close to home. If they are easy to access and you travel there often, you will see the best lighting, season, and angles for a location. Keep this in mind on your next photography trip. Don’t rush.
22. Get off the Beaten Track
Roadside pull-offs in the mountains and photo spots in the parks have been done. Sure, you haven’t put your twist on it, but chances are spectacular photos have been taken there before. Get off the trail and find new spots where fewer photographers tread. Seek out a different perspective and show the world what’s out there if you just look a bit deeper!
23. Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things
The beauty of shooting with a digital camera is that there is never any harm in trying. Got a wacky idea for an awesome photo? Just try it. In photography, maybe even more than other hobbies, there are no real rules. Try out your crazy ideas, have fun, make mistakes, and most importantly learn from those mistakes.
24. Focus on Small Details
As landscape shooters, sometimes we get overly focused on our wide-angle view of the world. Look for small details in a scene that has its own story to tell about that place at that time. What is unique and special about a place, and how can you zoom in on the special quality that it provides? This is not necessarily suggesting that you should adopt a new hobby in macro photography, just that it is often a lack of focus on individual details that make some landscape scenes cluttered and confusing.
25. Consider Alternatives to Traditional Color Photos
High dynamic range photography is becoming all the rage. It is well suited for landscapes because it adds detail and depth to your photos. Bad HDR is everywhere: it can be gallingly unrealistic and oversaturated. But done well HDR can produce beautiful results that cannot be duplicated as well from a single exposure. With a practiced eye and a little patience, HDR can take your landscape photography to the next level. Even if you don’t use the technique every shoot, you will eventually find certain locations and lighting situations that are made to be shot in HDR. HDR photography is accomplished by taking multiple bracketed exposures of the same image and combining them into one correctly exposed image during post-processing.
If you’re looking for a more classic look in your photos, consider shooting black and white landscape photography. While many photographers today alter their pictures after the fact during post-processing, anyone who has shot black and white images will tell you that it requires more thought and planning than that. Without color data, the way you view your landscape changes. Deep contrasts become much more important. Dark shadows are a benefit, and dramatic lighting only helps the scene take shape. While shooting, give the black and white photography option some thought and consider it part of the shooting rather than part of the post-processing.
If you’re just get started with photography, then you’re probably wondering what the best camera for beginners is, and which one you should splash your hard earned cash on.
So today, here we give you just THREE cameras to choose from, so that you can narrow down the options from the 100’s to single digits, and ideally, get your first camera picked out within the next hour 🙌
Searching for cameras can be a time suck, and the truth is, there is little difference between brands, (so canon v nikon is not generally a deal breaker!) plus you’re probably already constrained by your budget, which narrows down the options a fair bit all on it’s ownsome.
You also don’t want anything too advanced so you can take your first steps without being overwhelmed, but you also want something that you can grow into as your skills develop.
Getting the right DSLR or mirrorless camera will give you the CONTROL you need to take better photos, without making you frustrated. Because in order to get photos that you love and that have a more of a professional look to them, you’re going to want to make choices about the camera settings yourself, rather than letting a bunch of wires and sensors do it for you 😉
That’s things like choosing your own aperture, shutter speed and ISO in manual mode in order for your photos to have a certain “look”, taking control of focus so that your images are tack sharp, or setting the right colour yourself all means that you’ll get better results, and fall in love with the photos you take.
So although getting the right camera is an important part of photography, the thing that will make the BIGGEST difference to your photos is actually learning how to use it.
All of these cameras on this page have a good level of features, which will give you that control we’ve just been talking about, but won’t require you to take out a second mortgage on your home to get out of the store.
Enough talk, let’s dive in!
Option #1 – Canon Rebel T8i DSLR Camera
This T8i camera gives you a whopping 24 megapixels, which is more than you will ever need.
In case you don’t know, the number of megapixels can be important because it determines how large you can print your images, and still have good image quality: more megapixels means larger images. But the other reason we pay attention to this is because it gives you a little bit of leeway when cropping your images, as you can crop away half your picture and STILL have enough to get a large print!
The other thing I like about this camera is that it shoots at 7.5 frames per second, and has 45 auto-focus points, both of which are fantastic features for shooting action images, such as a running toddler, sports days or wildlife.
The frames per second is how fast your camera can actually take a picture (and sometimes with action you have to take several in quick succession) and more focus points gives you more to choose from, so that you can get your focus exactly where you want it.
It also has wireless capability which is great for sharing your photos, and it can record video too, should you wish to do that.
All in all, it’s a great all rounder that will allow you to take fantastic images with beautiful clarity (once you learn how to use it!) but isn’t too complicated to learn and use as a beginner.
Option #2 – Nikon D5600
This model has been around for a while, but probably for good reason!
Just as with the Canon version above, it has 24 MP and also has wifi and video capabilities.
It has 39 Auto-Focus points, and it shoots at 5fps, so again, enough focus points to help you get accurate focus, and the FPS is decent; not quite as fast as the Canon Rebel, but still good.
Again, this camera is advanced enough for you to get the control you need, and keep you happy for a good long while, whilst not being overly complicated with too many bells and whistles for when you’re still getting to grip with the basics.
Option #3 – Sony Alpha A6400 Mirrorless
Nowadays, Mirrorless cameras are real contenders to DSLR cameras, because they are smaller and more lightweight than their DSLR counterparts, and their focusing systems (which once lagged behind) have been significantly improved, so they are definitely worth considering.
This model is again 24 Megapixels (same as the Canon or Nikon) but shoots at a whopping 11 frames per second, which is FAST, and 424 focus points, which is, quite frankly, bananas.
With wireless and video capabilities too, it’s another great all rounder, but if size and weight is your primary consideration, then this is the one to go for.
So, what’s all this about lenses?!
Lenses are a whole other story, and just as important (if not more so!) than your camera body.
Most entry level cameras come complete with what is known as a “kit lens’. These are relatively inexpensive lenses, and are pretty versatile, so they can be used for lots of different types of photos. (Both the Canon and Nikon versions in this post come with a kit lens)
However, these kit lenses are not the best to have, because they won’t give you a nice wide aperture (useful for low light shots or getting yummy, blurry backgrounds) nor are they particularly quick to focus (bad for capturing action shots) and at the risk of offending them, they just simply aren’t the sharpest lens on the block.
That’s why I generally recommend skipping the kit lens (if it’s worth it to do so) and buy the body only, and get a different lens instead.
Again, there are lots and lots and lots of options here (photographers do love some lens talk ) but let me narrow this down significantly and tell you that the almost universal upgrade lens is what’s known as the “Nifty Fifty” a.k.a the 50mm F1.8 Lens.
The price of these is not bank breaking, but still a definite step up from the kit lens.
Having that better lens will pay you back tenfold in low light situations (because you can let MORE of the limited light into the camera via your aperture) give you the soft buttery background blur I know you want, and help give you sharper images.
If you are starting a career in photography, you will inevitably be paid to shoot some type of event. Events can differ vastly ranging from weddings to corporate events to concerts. However, we’ve created a list of a few fundamental tips that will help you capture better photos no matter what event you are shooting. In this article, we discuss how to prepare for shooting an event, what gear and settings you will use, and how to capture great photos on the day of the event.
Prepare for the event
In the days and weeks leading up to the event that you are shooting, it is important to prepare as much as possible. First and foremost, have a meeting with your client to ask questions and get on the same page about what their expectations are. If you are meeting with new, potential clients here are a few tips for better client meetings.
What kind of images do they expect? What are the most important moments to capture? Where will these photos be used? What style of photography do they like or not like? These are just a few example questions that will help you get a clearer direction of how to photograph the event.
You will also want to research the event space and location. Look up the specific event space online. This will often bring up photos from past shoots, the location, and the natural lighting that will give you an idea of what you will be working with.
Gear up for event photography
Another critical part of preparation is determining what gear you will be shooting with. There are various types of camera lenses to choose from so how do you narrow it down? When it comes to shooting events, the best type of lens is one that is effective and efficient.
Prime lenses can be incredibly sharp and create beautiful depth of field and bokeh. However, switching between prime lenses can consume time. In event photography, the action will not slow down for you to be able to change lenses and get the shot.
This is why a quality zoom lens is typically a great balance between efficiency and effective. Zoom lenses allow you to quickly change your focal length without changing lenses so that you do not waste time and can get every shot you need. Zoom lenses can capture wide shots, close up shots, and medium shots in one lens.
Another thing to consider is whether or not you will utilize an artificial light like a flash. This may depend on the event you are shooting as well as the light availability. In dark locations or night events, flash can help you properly expose otherwise dark shots. But flash can also be distracting and disruptive so be sure to talk to your client if you plan to use one.
If you do opt for the flash, consider bouncing your flash rather than pointing the flash directly at your subjects or event space.
One of the most important, but easily overlooked pieces of gear you absolutely need is extra batteries and extra memory cards. When shooting events, your camera will be on and shooting for hours. Bring extra batteries to quickly switch out dead batteries for fresh ones.
SD cards will also quickly fill up when shooting events. This is especially true when shooting in RAW. Pack more memory cards than you think you will need for ease of mind.
Know the agenda
In meeting your client, a part of your conversation will be the agenda of the event. Take notes of the agenda to help you get a visual understanding of what you will be capturing. Events can vary greatly. Weddings and family events will have moments to capture where a couple or person is being celebrated.
Corporate event photography can have exercises or games you will want to capture. Knowing the agenda will help you visualize the event. This will help you with our next tip which is to create a shot list.
Create a shot list
Although much of event photography is based on instinct in capturing real time action, creating a shot list is important for remembering to capture critical shots. A bride and groom’s first dance, a CEO’s speech, or a grandfather blowing out his birthday candles are all crucial moments to capture that your client will be expecting.
Using software shot listing app can help you create an organized list of essential shots. You can also use the app to mark the shot size and type. This will help you capture a variety of shots from wide shots of the event space to close-up shots of guest emotions.
There are no set rules when it comes to shooting events. This may mean organizing a shot list based on the agenda or organizing a shot list based on shot types. Utilize a shot list in whatever way will best benefit you on the day of the shoot.
Shoot in RAW
To give yourself flexibility in the editing phase of photography, you will want to shoot your photos in RAW. The best camera for event photography will typically be professional DSLR or mirrorless cameras which allow you to shoot in RAW. Shooting in RAW retains all the visual information outside of the settings that you shoot in.
This allows you to make adjustments when editing that can save a photo.
Shoot in Burst Mode
Speaking of event moments that only last a few seconds, shooting in burst mode will help you capture these moments. Burst mode allows you to capture multiple shots in rapid succession by merely holding down the shutter.
Burst mode comes in handy when shooting fast moving events like sports photography or concerts. It should also be used when capturing moments that last a few seconds like the bride and groom’s first kiss or someone blowing out birthday candles. Burst mode will capture every frame of action in these quick and crucial moments.
Get there early
When it comes to the day of the event, the last thing you want to do when shooting an event is show up at the same time the guests do. Get to the event early enough to give you time to set up your camera and scout the location.
Typically, events will also have setup and decoration details that are easier to capture prior to the guests arriving.
Getting to the event early will also help you capture the moments when guests first arrive. This is one of your best opportunities to capture emotional interactions as guests greet and welcome each other.
Capture emotions and expressions
Capturing emotions is something you should strive for long after the guests arrive. These moments are typically what clients do not expect to see but become their favorite photos.
You may not always know when a person is going to have an emotional reaction. So the best way to capture these expressions is to set up your shot and wait for them to occur naturally. This will allow you to properly compose your photo while getting a genuine expression.
It is also important to read the room. Understand where things are happening and where things are quiet. If people are having a dance contest on the dance floor, don’t be by the dining tables.
Remember that the reactions of guests will depend greatly on the event you are shooting. Weddings will have very emotional guests who can even be on the brink of tears. Corporate event photography shoots can have guests that are filled with curiosity by a guest speaker. Be aware of the different emotions that will be present in the event you are shooting.
Shoot candid photos
Candid photos are the most difficult to plan for, but often the most beloved by clients. Capturing candid photos is a matter of timing, instinct, and luck. As we talked about in the previous section, reading the room will help you be at the right place at the right time to get the perfect candid shots.
Once you get a feel for the room, combine this with your knowledge of the event agenda. This will help you anticipate the action and where to be to capture genuine, candid shots.
Capturing candid moments will also become more instinctual with experience. Becoming a fly on the wall and anticipating where the action will be will help you capture people as they naturally are.
Shoot posed photos
Candid photos are great, but they shouldn’t be the only thing you capture. Clients and guests will want to see posed photos. Guests may even come up to you and ask you to take their photo with others. Be prepared to transition between shooting candid moments and posed photos throughout the event.
When shooting posed photos, don’t be afraid to direct your subjects. Tell friends to embrace each other for a more natural posed photo. Also find unique backgrounds to shoot your subjects against.
A few general tips for posing people for a photo is to direct their body to face the camera at an angle. This is typically a more flattering position. Give your subjects something to do with their hands when they are posing. This can be holding their wine glasses, embracing each other, or even simply putting their hands in their pockets. Finally, break up the seriousness by allowing for some fun or goofy pictures. This will help your guests loosen up for later shots.
Be a ninja
As an event photographer, you are there to capture the event without distracting the guests. To do this, be like a ninja not the paparazzi. Move slyly around the event space to avoid disrupting the event. Try not to obstruct the view of guests while shooting.
Of course, this does not mean to stay put. Shooting from one, safe position will result in a lack of variety in your shots. Read the room and be aware of moments when you can move quietly and slyly. When guests are moving about freely, join the action without causing any disruptions.
Finding a balance between moving freely and being a ninja will help you get the best shots in the least disruptive way.
Like any other art form, photography has a lot of different genres. This handy guide will walk you through the different genres and types of photography and some of the basics of each genre.
Which type of photography should I master? That is probably the most challenging decision to make when you are starting your pursuit of photography as a career. When you think of all of the various subjects there are to capture, and all of the different ways to create the image, the field of photography really is dynamic and varied. It is imperative that you understand the various photography niches before you choose the career of your choice. Remember that there is something for everyone in photography, and the types of photography jobs are just as exciting.
We have compiled the most popular genres of photography. Of course, this list is not all-inclusive, since there are many careers made in various niches within our industry. And there are also many careers that are not directly related to photography that require an understanding of photography technique, creativity, and good compositional skills. Such jobs require one to pay great attention to detail while taking photographs. Professionals worldwide are connecting on social media and creating photographs to document their style and repertoire of work.
Here is the list of photography genres you can pursue:
Wedding Photography
Event Photography
Portrait Photography
Fine Art Photography
Fashion Photography
Architectural Photography
Travel Photography
Lifestyle Photography and more
Pixpa’s all-in-one platform enables photographers, designers, and creative businesses to create stunning, professional websites easily without any coding knowledge. With a built-in eCommerce store, blogging, client galleries and much more, Pixpa empowers creatives to showcase, share, sell and deliver their work online easily – all in one place. Creative professionals looking at building a strong online presence and growing their business will benefit from a well-laid out online portfolio.
Types of photography genres you can pursue:
1 – Wedding Photography
The first type of photography job involves weddings and events. Many people go their entire lives and only pay for professional photography once, but nearly everyone hires a photographer for their wedding.
The great wedding photographers are the ones who love their jobs. Many beginner photographers, who are trying to establish themselves, start shooting weddings because, as they say, “that’s where the money is.” But this mindset will ultimately lead to a disappointing business model if the photographer’s heart isn’t in their work.
2 – Event Photography
In the same vein, event photography is a dynamic and fast-paced way to make a buck with your camera. Whether your beat is corporate events or wild and crazy rock concerts, event photographers work in a variety of settings. Event photography styles often involve a mixture of photojournalistic documentary work and portraiture. Some organizations use their event photos for publicity purposes, while other use party photos as souvenirs or keepsakes.
#3 – Portrait Photography
Portraiture is one of the most common types of photographer that we think of when we consider career options. The kinds of photography that can be included in portraits is astounding. Retail customers seek out portrait photographers for every phase of life: maternity and newborns, school photos, senior photos, and general family photos. Corporate portraits are also commonly needed as employees update their headshots for websites and publicity materials. Furthermore, aspiring and professional models are in constant need of updated portfolios with a catalog of current shots to market themselves for agencies and jobs.
Portrait photography is a great place to start out as a photographer. Building a great portfolio of quality shots can lead to more business. It can often lead to more work for families and weddings as word of mouth marketing does its magic. It can also lead to fashion and product photography gigs.
4 – Product Photography
More specific than working in advertising, product photography is a great specialization. Think about all of the products you have recently shopped for: everything needs to be photographed. The photos are used for online and print catalogs, as well as for labels and packaging. Most product photography is studio based, with careful control of backgrounds, shadows, and lighting. Studio rentals can be fairly expensive so consider building a home photography studio on a budget.
Product photography covers a lot of ground. Food photography is a specialized niche, and restaurants need to advertise their meals and create their menus. Jewelry is another favorite type of product photography since this requires the perfect balance of light and preparation. While some product shoots might involve models, many times you will be working solo in a studio doing still life photographs of small objects.
5 – Fine Art Photography
Of all of the types of photography, this is the one with no rules. Fine art photographers create art. They display their work in galleries and at art shows, and generally, they sell a finished, framed print product to their customers. Fine art photography can be of any subject at all, but landscape and portrait artists are probably the most common. Fine art images are about capturing emotional responses and communicating with the audience.
6 – Fashion Photography
Fashion photography is one of the more glamorous and more difficult to enter photography jobs. From cover shots of the top fashion magazines to documenting the latest styles and trends on the runway, fashion photographers work in the design districts of New York, Paris, and Milan. Runway shoots require an element of documentary photography, while posed shoots on location demand one-on-one work with the model.
Catalog and magazine shoots might also occur on location, from tropical beaches to subway. In this style of glamour photography, the look of the photographs is everything. Lighting must be perfect. This is a job that is also focused on the model, so a majority of the photographers time is spent posing and directing models and scenes to get the look desired from the publication.
Fashion shoots are all about teamwork, and they are done by a group of people. The photographer is just one cog in the wheel. Stylists, wardrobe specialists, makeup artists, art directors, and others make up a team that keeps the shoot on track and make the magic happen.
7 – Architectural Photography
While many find taking pictures of buildings to be a fun hobby, many specialized photographers make careers out of it. Employed by architectural agencies or working as freelancers, these photographers capture the essence of buildings from inception to completion. Details captured include the exteriors and interiors, and subtle details that make the building’s design unique. Architectural photography requires some special techniques and equipment to minimize distortion and perspective problems that become apparent on a building’s many right angles.
A subdivision is real estate photography. Realtors always need excellent photographs, especially in today’s market where many customers view many properties online before deciding to go see them. High-quality architectural pictures are difficult to get right, and realtors will pay for professional photos especially in the high-end market.
8 – Travel Photography
Do you love to travel? Would you like to get paid for it? Who doesn’t? Travel photography allows you to do just that while having fun with your camera in dynamic settings. Travel photography blends many different types of photography into one. On one trip you might want to focus on the people and the lifestyles present in a place, while also capturing the landscapes and the natural world in which it’s located.
9 – Advertising or Lifestyle Photography
Everywhere we go we are surrounded by photography. Photography is on billboards, street signs, magazine ads, even in our pockets on our smartphones. Captivating photography makes the advertising world tick, and photography has never been more in demand than it is right now.
Advertising photography can include a range of subjects, like street photography, lifestyle photography, fashion photography, or product photography. Advertising photographers can work as freelancers, selling images on a project-by-project basis, or they might work directly for major ad agencies. Either way, this is a dynamic field where you may be shooting for a print ads campaign one day and shooting internet ads the next, always with a new subject.
10 – Photojournalism
Whether it be in war zones, political rallies, natural disasters, or community celebrations, photojournalists cover breaking news. Newspapers, magazines, and online publications are all in need of still photographs to help tell their stories. Photojournalism is one of the documentary types of photography, and the goal of a photojournalist is to document the events as they unfold. While there may be some portraiture, the majority of work is done candidly and as unobtrusively as possible. The photos tell a story of events that are happening all over the world.
11 – Pet Photography
If your perfect subject is a furry friend, then pet photography might be for you. This is a growing sector and is very similar in working conditions and type of styles to portraiture; only your subjects may require treats when they are good. If you love animals, then there is no better job as a photographer. Pet photography involves a fun mix of studio sessions and outdoor, on-location shoots. With connections to your local pet daycare facilities and dog show circuits, you can build your business fairly quickly. A great way to start out is to volunteer your time to your local pound, taking pictures of the animals and helping them find their forever homes.
12 – Sports Photography
If you love sports, then being a sports photographer is a great gig. From the sidelines, sports photographers use quick cameras and long lenses to zoom in on the action and capture the winning shots. Photos wind up in publicity materials for teams, in advertising and marketing, and in the news media online and in print.
13 – Aerial Photography
A burgeoning field of photography born from modern technology is an aerial photographer. Sure, aerial images have been around as long as manned flight and cameras have been. But today, unmanned aerial vehicles, also called drones, are being used for aerial views and different perspective shots by photographers. In the US and most countries, commercial drone pilots must be licensed. The process is relatively simple and usually requires only a written exam. Aerial photography is now used for everything from architectural and real estate photography to weddings and events. The unique perspective given by drones can’t be beaten for uniqueness and beauty.
14 – Scientific or Specialty Photography
Many fields rely on great photography for publications, training materials, and record keeping. Many scientific and medical research companies employ photographers to document new findings and discoveries.
Many other industries rely on photos to conduct surveys and studies. For example, in Florida, aerial wildlife studies are routinely performed to study the numbers of manatees and birds living in remote areas. Many insurance companies rely on photographers to inspect homes and buildings, sending their photographic findings to the company to document damage or condition.
These are just a few examples of the specialized fields that use photography regularly. With open eyes and ears, working photographers can find remarkable jobs working with governments and private companies all over the world.
15 – Stock Photography
If all of these types of photography jobs sounded good to you, you might make a great stock photographer. Stock photographers sell the rights to use their images through catalogs. They can work as a freelancer, but more often than not photographers allow agencies to handle their sales. Stock sales usually don’t pay very much per use, but the goal of a successful stock photographer is to have an extensive catalog of images that sell often. As a result, once the photos are uploaded and being sold, they provide a source of on-going passive income.
The advantage of selling stock photos is that you can sell any type of image you want. These images are used by major ad agencies and small websites. Whether you like to shoot sunsets, people, kids, pets, or wildlife, you can probably sell your images as stock. Once the photos are captured, a lot of time is spent cataloging and keywording images to ensure that customers can find them.
Conclusion
It’s almost impossible to compile a list of all of the different types of photography that you can earn money from. For your photography career, it can be difficult choosing which path to take. Many photographers try out many paths in their career until they find the one that suits them best. The most successful photographers work in a niche, something that they specialize in that few others do. The possibilities are endless, and finding your niche is half the fun. So, which kinds of photography would you like to master?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular type of photography?
Portrait photography is one of the most popular types of photography. Portraiture comes up in several different genres of photography, including wedding and engagement photography, family photography, fashion photography etc. This results in a relatively high demand for portrait photographers.
Which type of photography makes the most money?
Wedding photography can be one of the most profitable genres of photography. Weddings are an expensive, once in a lifetime affair and most couples are willing to pay a premium to the right photographer.
What are the 6 elements of photography?
The 6 elements of photography are color, line, pattern, texture, viewpoint and the rule of thirds.
Still life is a unique genre of photography. One thing that makes it so special is that often the subjects aren’t very interesting. They’re just ordinary objects that you normally wouldn’t pay much attention to.
What Is Still Life Photography?
Still life photography is a form of professional photography that depicts inanimate objects or subject matters.
That means that to be successful at still life photography, you need to find ways to make your photos interesting. That also means it’s a great style of photography for learning new skills.
By experimenting with different arrangements, lighting, and compositions, still life photographers can breathe life into their subjects.
If you’re interested in trying it yourself, you’ve come to the right place. This guide to still life photography will tell you everything you need to know to get started.
Table of Contents
What Is Still Life Photography?
Hone Your Photography Skills with Still Life
Different Types of Still Life Photography
Still Life Photography Equipment
Still Life Photography Lighting
Lenses for Still Life Photography
Cameras for Still Life Photography
Still Life Photography Tips
Still Life Photography Ideas
Get Some Objects Together and Get Started
What Is Still Life Photography?
You’re probably familiar with still life in art—those paintings that depict a bowl of fruit or flowers in a vase. Those are classic examples of a still life. But even when you’re familiar with the concept, you might not know exactly what makes a still life a still life.
In a nutshell, a still life is a work of art that focuses on inanimate subjects. Usually, the subjects are commonplace objects. That can include both manmade objects (such as vases, items of clothing, and consumer products) and natural objects (like plants, food, rocks, and shells).
The major advantage offered by still life is the freedom to arrange the objects any way you want. Still life photography follows the same philosophy. A lot of emphasis is put on the arrangement of the items, the lighting, and the framing. That makes it a great genre to experiment with and it can help you become a better photographer.
Hone Your Photography Skills with Still Life
Still life photography makes it easy to experiment. In contrast to portrait and landscape photography, you don’t have to deal with live models, and you don’t have to search out an interesting location or photo opportunity. Instead, you can create your own interesting composition using common objects you have or find nearby.
By giving you complete control over every aspect of the scene, still life lets you try out different compositions and lighting setups to see what works and what doesn’t. So once you understand how to create great still life photography, you’ll be well equipped to create better photo compositions in any situation.
Still life is also a great way to show off your skills and artistic flair, making still life shots a great addition to any photographer’s online portfolio website. By taking commonplace objects and turning them into interesting works of art, still life photography is the perfect way to show potential clients what you are capable of.
Different Types of Still Life Photography
Still life photography encompasses a variety of subcategories. Here are just a few of them:
Tabletop Photography
Tabletop photography is the most common type of still life. It’s what most people think of when they hear about still life photography. This category is all about shooting objects that are small enough to fit on a table. The objects can be anything the photographer desires, as long as they’re inanimate.
Product Photography
Another example is product photography. Since it involves shooting inanimate objects, it can be considered as a type of still life. However, where the two categories differ is that with product photography, the main goal is to show off a product.
These photos usually focus on providing a clear image of the product without distractions. In contrast, still life shots are usually more artistically driven and offer more opportunities to be creative.
Food Photography
Food photography is another subcategory of still life that is closely related to product photography. Often, the main goal is to depict food in an attractive way. However, when compared to product photography, food photography often also involves setting the scene by arranging other food items and tableware around the subject.
Found Object Photography
Photos of found object art can be considered another branch of still life, although found object art also usually involves modifying an object or placing it in an unusual context.
Still Life Photography Equipment
Another benefit of still life photography is it doesn’t take much to get started. If you’re going to try it out for the first time, your studio can be just a table by a window.
Since the arrangement of objects is an important part of still life shots, you can begin experimenting with arrangements using your existing equipment. There’s no need for a top-of-the-line camera for that!
But when you want to start capturing professional-looking still life photos, that’s where the need for some new gear may come in. The most important of which is lighting equipment.
Still Life Photography Lighting
Lighting is of particular importance in still life photography. When your subject is an ordinary object, lighting is one of the best ways you can create a mood or add interest to your photos.
Light Reflectors
Light reflectors are one of the most affordable and easiest ways to start taking better photos. A simple light reflector will let your start manipulating the natural light in your scene, without the need for additional lighting equipment. Whether you are trying to soften some shadows, better illuminate the subject, or highlight the textures in your composition, light reflectors can help.
Speedlights and Strobes
A speedlight or strobe is the next piece of equipment you’ll want to look into. By having an off-camera flash or strobe to light the scene, you won’t have to rely on natural light from a window. Instead, you’ll have more freedom to light your subject from any angle. In addition, a powerful light source like a speedlight or strobe will give your photos a more professional look and let you create interesting effects such as low-key photography .
A speedlight (sometimes called a flashgun or hot shoe flash) is a great place to start. They are more affordable than strobes and will be more than enough for most still life photographers’ needs.
Strobes are more expensive but offer a few more features. They will enable you to adjust the light’s intensity by tweaking their settings and they typically have a built-in modeling light that will help you figure out where to place the strobe to get the desired effect.
Softboxes
Softboxes are another important piece of lighting equipment. Whether you choose a speedlight or strobe, you should consider picking up a softbox for shots where you want to avoid harsh shadows. Softboxes can diffuse the light from your flash or strobe into a soft and even light.
They also greatly reduce spill light and help with directing your light in exactly the way you want. For more information on softboxes and how to choose the right one for your needs, check out this introduction to softboxes.
Lenses for Still Life Photography
You don’t need a wide assortment of expensive lenses for still life photography, but it’s good to have a couple of quality lenses to choose from. One thing to keep in mind is you probably won’t need any wide angle lenses. That’s because in still life photography, the subjects usually don’t take up much space. So if you’re shooting with too wide of a view, you’re going to capture a lot of unnecessary space that you’ll probably want to crop out.
Besides that, here are a couple of other tips for choosing still life photography lenses.
Close up and macro lenses will help you get creative with the perspective in your still lifes. By offering low minimum-focus distances, they’ll let you get as close to your subject as you want, which results in more interesting compositions.
Telephoto lenses are a great choice for still life photography. For one, the narrow angle of view offered by telephoto lenses will help you properly fill the frame with your subject. Secondly, the extremely shallow depth of field will let you create a very specific point of focus, such as focusing on a particular part of your subject.
For example, let’s say you’re shooting a classic still life of a bouquet of flowers in a vase. With a telephoto lens, you could choose a particular flower as the focal point and have other flowers out of focus. In this way, a telephoto lens gives you more options to experiment with your still life compositions and achieve interesting effects.
Cameras for Still Life Photography
Still life photography isn’t very demanding when it comes to your choice of cameras. When compared to just about any other type of photography, still life offers more control over the scene. For instance, you’ll probably be shooting indoors and be able to take your time setting up the scene and adjusting the lighting.
That means there’s no need to invest in a top-tier camera that boasts features like heavy duty weatherproofing, rapid continuous shooting modes, or the ability to handle challenging lighting situations.
Cropped Sensor Cameras
While cameras with full-frame sensors are usually preferable, this is less important in still life photography. That’s because one of the major downsides of cropped sensor cameras is how they affect the focal length of lenses.
For instance, a 50mm lens used on a cropped sensor camera will behave more like an 80mm lens—your shots won’t be a wide as they would be on a full frame sensor camera. But since the subjects in still life photography typically aren’t wide, this is less of a problem. And since cropped sensor cameras are more affordable, they can offer a good choice for still life photographers on a budget.
Still Life Photography Tips
These tips will help you avoid the most common pitfalls, so keep them in mind when you’re planning out your first still life photo shoot!
Plan out your shoot. Still life photography offers lots of freedom, and if you don’t have a plan it can be easy to lose direction. So it’s worthwhile to spend a little time planning out the type of image you’re aiming for and brainstorming some still life photography ideas. Think about the objects you’re going to use, some different ways you can arrange them, what type of lighting you’ll use, and what mood you want to achieve.
If you plan on shooting next to a window, choose a window that isn’t exposed to direct sunlight. Otherwise, the light will be too harsh.
You’ll get the best natural light on overcast days as the light will be soft and even. But if you’re trying to shoot on a bright day and find the light is too harsh, you can hang a sheer white curtain in front of the window as a makeshift diffuser.
Use a tripod. Having your hands free will make it easier to rearrange the objects and lighting between shots. It will also come in handy for shots that need longer shutter speeds.
When choosing objects to use in a shot, try to pick things that work together visually. For instance, if one of the objects is an antique, keep that theme consistent by only including other old-fashioned items. Also consider using items with complementary colors, or items that are related in some way (such as a book and reading glasses).
Lighting from the side tends to result in more interesting shots than lighting the subject head-on. It will help bring out the textures in your subject. Also, side lighting can create a bright focal point on one side of the image that helps lead the viewer’s eye through your composition.
Choosing backgrounds
If you want to make sure no attention is taken away from the subject, you can always go the plain white route and use some white cardboard or a tablecloth as the backdrop for your still lifes. On the other hand, if you want to get creative, there are a lot of possibilities.
For instance, using painted canvas as your backdrop can add some flair with some nice texture and color. However, the last thing you want in still life photography is a distracting background.
So the trick is to stick with neutral or subtle colors that won’t overpower the subject. For that reason, white, greys, black, and browns work well.
Still Life Photography Ideas
If you think you’re ready to get started but are looking for some inspiration, here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
You don’t have to stick with the traditional subjects like fruit in a bowl. There are plenty of great still life photography examples online that use objects you might not have thought of. Just a few ideas include leaves, tools, moldy food, a melting popsicle, and the surface of oil and water. So try to get creative when choosing what objects to use.
Old objects tend to be interesting. The more beat up and worn out they are, the better. These objects often offer interesting textures with their rust, cracked and flaking surfaces, or signs of damage that make you wonder what they’ve been through. So, whether it’s a raggedy pair of boots or a dusty old book, see what interesting old items you have kicking around.
Try creating some flat lay compositions. This style involves arranging objects on a table or other flat surfaces and shooting directly from above. This type of composition can help simplify the process as all of the objects will be on a single plane, and you can position everything exactly where you want it—with no need to worry about gravity.
Try taking some low-key images for moody results. Low key photography involves shooting dark-colored scenes that emphasize the light in specific areas. These shots can also put all of the viewer’s attention on your subject as there will be nothing but pitch black as the background.
Low key images can look like they must have been taken in a professional studio, but you can do it almost anywhere. The trick is to set your camera to use a very fast shutter speed, low ISO settings, and a narrow aperture. This will keep out the ambient light so the only light visible in the final image be from your flash. Try using this technique to shoot some flat lay compositions against a black background and it will look like your subject is floating in a black void.
Get Some Objects Together and Get Started
Now you know what still life photography is and some of the techniques that will help you succeed at it.
Autumn 